Frozen.......

[bulk66]

Hi all dose the mk3 have a common problem with sticking hand breaks in really cold weather. I parked my mk3 vr6 in works car park over night came out in morning to go home let off the hand break, pulled off and the rear breaks stuck on. I tryed moving back and forwards to free them but they were stuck solid, so i came back later that afternoon got in the car and drove off with no problems. I was thinking maybe the handbreak cable had got some moisture in it any ideas anyone....

[boneybradley]

might be worth stripping the rear brakes as mk3 rear caliper's are known to seize..(Mk2's even worth so I believe) You can upgrade to mk4 caliper's which are less prone to seizeing but a good strip and clean can make your current one's better

[bulk66]

Cheers mate. Do you know any one who has done the mk4 conversion, is it worth it and is it a b!tch to do........

[boneybradley]

c and r do the rear caliper's and hose as a kit for mk3's and they are a direct replacement

try this link http://www.candrenterprises.co.uk/allparts.asp?catcode=B0&section=brakes&carmake=VW and select mk4 rear caliper's from the list

[AudiA8Quattro]

Mk3 calipers are not known to seize at all, unlike the mk2 calipers.
Your problem will be the little boot on the handbrake cable has broken or perished, and it is letting moisture in down the inner cable, this will freeze sticking the handbrake.

[bulk66]

Cheers for that mate can i just replace the boot or will it just be as easy to just replace the whole cable.

[AudiA8Quattro]

You may be better off replacing the cables, i would have a closer look to see if it is the problem, and if you can repair the boot with a bit of glue.
Also you could try spraying some wd40 down the inside part of the cable.

[bulk66]

Ok mate cheers will give that a try .........

[rubjonny]

Early MK3 calipers are known to sieze, they're exactly the same as MK2 calipers
But it was only the first year or 2 of production they were fitted.  Get underneath and have a look at the calipers, if they have a great big spring on the outside they're the MK2 type, if not they're MK3.

As audi100quattro says it could be the cables, if they have a hole in the outer sheith(sp?) water gets in and will freeze if the temp drops, holding the handbrake on.

[bulk66]

Cheers for that, Johnny to the rescue again .......